why cant black people stick together i dont understamd why e have to keep braeking each other down.every time i see these kind os things it makes me wonder cause is ee people who want to change who are my age yet i feel so lucky that nobody has said those things to me and i’m darkskined wear a fro never relaxed it or wore a weave i feel beutiful and we need to understand that we are beautiful the way God made us and no one can tell us different

Bolustoyo

why cant black people stick together i dont understamd why e have to keep braeking each other down.every time i see these kind os things it makes me wonder cause is ee people who want to change who are my age yet i feel so lucky that nobody has said those things to me and i’m darkskined wear a fro never relaxed it or wore a weave i feel beutiful and we need to understand that we are beautiful the way God made us and no one can tell us different

candyj

so glad to hear about this film. as a former elementary school teacher at a predominantly black school, i saw first hand how some(not all) darker skinned kids got teased and called names related to their complexion. it was enough to make my blood boil.

people of color need to see this, and we need to learn to think critically about television and the media. specifically its portrayal of us and what kinds of people it chooses to present to us as attractive and who it strategically leaves out. and if anyone is familiar with the author bell hooks, she has a wonderful book on this and similar topics that’s called rock my soul: black people and self-esteem. great read. thanks, cipriana, for spreading the word about this thought-provoking film!

Cipriana

My pleasure candyj. I mean really, if this film does not conjure up some strong emotions, You Have No Soul! Point blank! Wow, I bet your blood was boiling, mine would have been boiling as well. Especially when it comes to children who are experiencing cruelty, I just can’t! That is the ultimate low.

“Rock My Soul” sounds like an amazing read! Thank you for the suggestion, I am on Better World Books right now looking for it.

candyj

so glad to hear about this film. as a former elementary school teacher at a predominantly black school, i saw first hand how some(not all) darker skinned kids got teased and called names related to their complexion. it was enough to make my blood boil.

people of color need to see this, and we need to learn to think critically about television and the media. specifically its portrayal of us and what kinds of people it chooses to present to us as attractive and who it strategically leaves out. and if anyone is familiar with the author bell hooks, she has a wonderful book on this and similar topics that’s called rock my soul: black people and self-esteem. great read. thanks, cipriana, for spreading the word about this thought-provoking film!

Cipriana

My pleasure candyj. I mean really, if this film does not conjure up some strong emotions, You Have No Soul! Point blank! Wow, I bet your blood was boiling, mine would have been boiling as well. Especially when it comes to children who are experiencing cruelty, I just can’t! That is the ultimate low.

“Rock My Soul” sounds like an amazing read! Thank you for the suggestion, I am on Better World Books right now looking for it.

http://twitter.com/Netta__love92 Netta

In those 9+ minutes I sat here and bawled. It’s sad that this is still true even in colleges. I’m mature enough to admit that when I was younger, I took part of this, but as I grew up I realized that a person’s morals, intelligence, and spirit mean so much more. I can only pray that soon more people will catch on to this.

http://twitter.com/Netta__love92 Netta

In those 9+ minutes I sat here and bawled. It’s sad that this is still true even in colleges. I’m mature enough to admit that when I was younger, I took part of this, but as I grew up I realized that a person’s morals, intelligence, and spirit mean so much more. I can only pray that soon more people will catch on to this.

The only way to Counter this general consensus that black is lesser than is education. We in this country are reconfigured to believe solely this modern history,a negative,hateful view of African culture. The black ,afro American history does not begin when we reached the shores of the U.S -where we were divided and abused. We African Americans /Latin Americans have a rich history and we need to instill this in ourselves and also in our children.Our color will then serve as a visual testament to those strong ancestors that perceviered,survived and thrived and we and our beautiful sun kissed skin is prove.

Pam

The only way to Counter this general consensus that black is lesser than is education. We in this country are reconfigured to believe solely this modern history,a negative,hateful view of African culture. The black ,afro American history does not begin when we reached the shores of the U.S -where we were divided and abused. We African Americans /Latin Americans have a rich history and we need to instill this in ourselves and also in our children.Our color will then serve as a visual testament to those strong ancestors that perceviered,survived and thrived and we and our beautiful sun kissed skin is prove.

Nikishariley

I saw this trailer last summer and had tears in my eyes. I was wondering when it was gonna come out. Now I know :).

Nikishariley

I saw this trailer last summer and had tears in my eyes. I was wondering when it was gonna come out. Now I know :).

Jade

Yet another documentary getting money off the insecurities of Black Women. What else is new?

Why can’t they tell stories of dark skin women who are in love and take pride in their hue? Why must the narrative always be a depressing one? This is not to say people’s stories should not be told, but what about other peoples’ stories? I am dark skin, and I want to hear MY story too about women like me loving everything about their skin color.

Jade

Yet another documentary getting money off the insecurities of Black Women. What else is new?

Why can’t they tell stories of dark skin women who are in love and take pride in their hue? Why must the narrative always be a depressing one? This is not to say people’s stories should not be told, but what about other peoples’ stories? I am dark skin, and I want to hear MY story too about women like me loving everything about their skin color.

Monniej01

sounds like you’ve got some work to do, sister! i’d love to hear your story! let’s get to it!

Jade

Yet another documentary getting money off the insecurities of Black Women. What else is new?

Why can’t they tell stories of dark skin women who are in love and take pride in their hue? Why must the narrative always be a depressing one? This is not to say people’s stories should not be told, but what about other peoples’ stories? I am dark skin, and I want to hear MY story too about women like me loving everything about their skin color.

Monniej01

sounds like you’ve got some work to do, sister! i’d love to hear your story! let’s get to it!

http://www.tipatipa.net/ Monique

I really want to see this. Having traveled extensively around Central& South America as well as Europe and the Carribean my perspective on skin color is quite different. On a global scale the majority of the people on the planet are of color. White/light is not the standard. Also, as a Black women of Haitian descent, I believe having a Carribbean identity particularly coming from the first black free republic certainly builds a level of confidence and pride in my skin color which was instilled at a very young age.

I know that there is so much separation and we certainly need to work on building bridges. As an educator in a NYC public high school. I try my best to celebrate our differences and natural attributes. Similar to the women’s example in the video of someone saying they are Haitian/Caribbean and not black. I have many Afro-latino students who clearly have African features say I’m Latino not black. When I introduced the idea of being Afro-Latino they had never heard that term and were interested in discovering more about what that means.

Thank you so much for sharing this documentary. It’s really gut wrenching to watch but so necessary to bring to the table.

http://www.tipatipa.net/ Monique

I really want to see this. Having traveled extensively around Central& South America as well as Europe and the Carribean my perspective on skin color is quite different. On a global scale the majority of the people on the planet are of color. White/light is not the standard. Also, as a Black women of Haitian descent, I believe having a Carribbean identity particularly coming from the first black free republic certainly builds a level of confidence and pride in my skin color which was instilled at a very young age.

I know that there is so much separation and we certainly need to work on building bridges. As an educator in a NYC public high school. I try my best to celebrate our differences and natural attributes. Similar to the women’s example in the video of someone saying they are Haitian/Caribbean and not black. I have many Afro-latino students who clearly have African features say I’m Latino not black. When I introduced the idea of being Afro-Latino they had never heard that term and were interested in discovering more about what that means.

Thank you so much for sharing this documentary. It’s really gut wrenching to watch but so necessary to bring to the table.

geri

Leave it to Bill Duke to produce such a thought provoking, insightful and empathetic tone to a topic that is both talked about and ignored by our community. I hope along with the pain there is discussion of the love that Black women of all hues have for their skin color.

geri

Leave it to Bill Duke to produce such a thought provoking, insightful and empathetic tone to a topic that is both talked about and ignored by our community. I hope along with the pain there is discussion of the love that Black women of all hues have for their skin color.

Luseeedwards

I’ve seen the trailer and I’m so interested in seeing the full documentary. Do you know the status of documentary; if it’s in production or not? The last I heard they were still trying to get funding to get it made. I hope they were able to get it. We all need to see this.

Luseeedwards

I’ve seen the trailer and I’m so interested in seeing the full documentary. Do you know the status of documentary; if it’s in production or not? The last I heard they were still trying to get funding to get it made. I hope they were able to get it. We all need to see this.

Guest

Saw the trailer before, very provoking- but on a lighter note (and more hair bloggy) I really did love the lady white hair’s hair! You rarely see such a beautifully solid head of mature hair. I hope that one day my twenty-something grays mature into something like that!

Guest

Saw the trailer before, very provoking- but on a lighter note (and more hair bloggy) I really did love the lady white hair’s hair! You rarely see such a beautifully solid head of mature hair. I hope that one day my twenty-something grays mature into something like that!

yetty

I agree totally with jade, there should be two sides to this story because I’m dark skin and people going around thinking every dark skin person has or must have had some kind of insecurity growing up because of their complexion is really not a good look. I would prefer if this film shows that while this is a serious issue, this is not the story of every dark skin girl, women of all hues have their insecurities. The last thing I need is people feeling they have to help me raise my self-esteem just because I have dark skin, looking at someone with pity is the same as feeling superior. If this film is too one-sided it would offend quite a few girls with dark skin who know this is not their story because it’s just creating a negative stereotype about us. Their experience is valid but I think it’s quite inappropriate, ignorant and one-sided to label it the dark skin girls experience.

Cipriana

Very valid point. Regardless of any story there are always 2 sides but like anything all sides need to be told but unfortunately when one side is documented it can be misinterpreted as a representation of a whole community. Hopefully people who see this film will know this is absolutely not the case for every dark complexion woman.

uriasba

I really do agree but in this very moment in space and time some people like to think that colorism from our past had disapperard or is only a construct of that individual’s mind. So though you and Im sure a host of other darker skinned beauties may have always had pride and self assurance one aspect that can not be denied is of the media’s ( tv, hip hop etc) discrimination (self hatred? )of women of darker hues.

Anonymous

Great point. I think you can be aware of colorism, aware that some people dismiss you or judge you to be less attractive b/c of it, and still wind up loving your dark skin. I know that I do.

What I would love to see someone do is to talk to women who have great self-esteem DESPITE never being placed on top or represented in the beauty hierarchy such that it is in this country.

So my take on this kind of project would be to look at the relationship between slavery, colorism, and racism, and to understand what messages people get that makes them feel better, normal or worse than in relation to everyone else.

I don’t admire or envy the women that this society decides to parade as being the epitome of female beauty. I don’t expect to see myself described as an example of feminine pulchritude. I expect to hear people deride my skin, my hair, and my body type. I think that they are wrong. Why, I’m not sure, but I do.

People are really quick to assume that we all digest those images in the same way, and we most definitely do not. (You know, like the people who talk to you as if you clearly see blond as an synonym for “hot”? I find that so crazy b/c I’m like, why on earth would I place someone who looks nothing like me on a pedestal that I cannot reach? Why would I idealize the exact opposite of what I am? Why would oyu expect me to agree with that? Ridiculous.)

The other benefit to this is that it can hopefully serve as a roadmap to helping raise daughters and sons have healthy self-esteem while still living in a colorist and racist world that dismisses their beauty.

yetty

I agree totally with jade, there should be two sides to this story because I’m dark skin and people going around thinking every dark skin person has or must have had some kind of insecurity growing up because of their complexion is really not a good look. I would prefer if this film shows that while this is a serious issue, this is not the story of every dark skin girl, women of all hues have their insecurities. The last thing I need is people feeling they have to help me raise my self-esteem just because I have dark skin, looking at someone with pity is the same as feeling superior. If this film is too one-sided it would offend quite a few girls with dark skin who know this is not their story because it’s just creating a negative stereotype about us. Their experience is valid but I think it’s quite inappropriate, ignorant and one-sided to label it the dark skin girls experience.

Cipriana

Very valid point. Regardless of any story there are always 2 sides but like anything all sides need to be told but unfortunately when one side is documented it can be misinterpreted as a representation of a whole community. Hopefully people who see this film will know this is absolutely not the case for every dark complexion woman.

uriasba

I really do agree but in this very moment in space and time some people like to think that colorism from our past had disapperard or is only a construct of that individual’s mind. So though you and Im sure a host of other darker skinned beauties may have always had pride and self assurance one aspect that can not be denied is of the media’s ( tv, hip hop etc) discrimination (self hatred? )of women of darker hues.

nicthommi

Great point. I think you can be aware of colorism, aware that some people dismiss you or judge you to be less attractive b/c of it, and still wind up loving your dark skin. I know that I do.

What I would love to see someone do is to talk to women who have great self-esteem DESPITE never being placed on top or represented in the beauty hierarchy such that it is in this country.

So my take on this kind of project would be to look at the relationship between slavery, colorism, and racism, and to understand what messages people get that makes them feel better, normal or worse than in relation to everyone else.

I don’t admire or envy the women that this society decides to parade as being the epitome of female beauty. I don’t expect to see myself described as an example of feminine pulchritude. I expect to hear people deride my skin, my hair, and my body type. I think that they are wrong. Why, I’m not sure, but I do.

People are really quick to assume that we all digest those images in the same way, and we most definitely do not. (You know, like the people who talk to you as if you clearly see blond as an synonym for “hot”? I find that so crazy b/c I’m like, why on earth would I place someone who looks nothing like me on a pedestal that I cannot reach? Why would I idealize the exact opposite of what I am? Why would oyu expect me to agree with that? Ridiculous.)

The other benefit to this is that it can hopefully serve as a roadmap to helping raise daughters and sons have healthy self-esteem while still living in a colorist and racist world that dismisses their beauty.

Monniej01

i’ve been waiting for the documentary to be completed for so long. i viewed the trailer more than a year ago and it had me in tears! this is a conversation that we as black women need to have amongst ourselves more than any other. it’s vital to our progress as a race, but more as a way to heal the bond between sisters. i know it’s painful, but think about how much stronger we’ll be once this is openly discussed. my hope is that if we do this heavy lifting now our daughters and their daughters will more easily be able to pave the way for a new discourse in the true meaning of beauty.

Monniej01

i’ve been waiting for the documentary to be completed for so long. i viewed the trailer more than a year ago and it had me in tears! this is a conversation that we as black women need to have amongst ourselves more than any other. it’s vital to our progress as a race, but more as a way to heal the bond between sisters. i know it’s painful, but think about how much stronger we’ll be once this is openly discussed. my hope is that if we do this heavy lifting now our daughters and their daughters will more easily be able to pave the way for a new discourse in the true meaning of beauty.

Pree Mair

I watched the video and i could understand from some of what the dark skin ladies were saying I have heard people close to me use words like BUTOO in a very very negative tone, she can’t be my friend because she too dark and I known people who skin beach/lighting. Even within my family family members who say negative things behind the person back.

The sad truth is there are still negative undertone for dark skin woman within the black community regards of country ( I am Caribbean and live in the UK) and I hear and see it. Even within my Indian group of friends, they say I need to LIGHTEN my skin to get a husband.

oh gosh I could go on..black hair shop saying would you like skin fading cream for your skin to other costumer out loud while she is passing the skin product area. Truth No joke and that’s in Brixton London UK. I

I do also have dark skin girls friends who are captivating just by there share natural beautiful and personality, I also think it what you hear from when your going up and whats displayed to you. Trust me when I say there are more that 32 shade of brown from light to dark. Just as in the white community you get milky white to olive . its the same for the black community. BE VERY PROUD..OF YOUR SKIN TONE..

YOU ARE NOT A MANUFACTURED beauty YOU ARE GOD MADE..TRULY EVERLASTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

ps my have typo…lol lol lol..

Pree Mair

I watched the video and i could understand from some of what the dark skin ladies were saying I have heard people close to me use words like BUTOO in a very very negative tone, she can’t be my friend because she too dark and I known people who skin beach/lighting. Even within my family family members who say negative things behind the person back.

The sad truth is there are still negative undertone for dark skin woman within the black community regards of country ( I am Caribbean and live in the UK) and I hear and see it. Even within my Indian group of friends, they say I need to LIGHTEN my skin to get a husband.

oh gosh I could go on..black hair shop saying would you like skin fading cream for your skin to other costumer out loud while she is passing the skin product area. Truth No joke and that’s in Brixton London UK. I

I do also have dark skin girls friends who are captivating just by there share natural beautiful and personality, I also think it what you hear from when your going up and whats displayed to you. Trust me when I say there are more that 32 shade of brown from light to dark. Just as in the white community you get milky white to olive . its the same for the black community. BE VERY PROUD..OF YOUR SKIN TONE..

YOU ARE NOT A MANUFACTURED beauty YOU ARE GOD MADE..TRULY EVERLASTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

ps my have typo…lol lol lol..

Pammy

I cannot believe that this still happening. This is not just about insecurities, it goes deeper than that.

A few months ago, i heard my 11 year old sister say that she wished her skin was a little lighter and her hair straight. It was up to me to teach her different. She asked me why haven’t i permed my hair. I told her that i love my hair and everything about me. Flaws and all……

I cannot imagine having a different skin colour or a different hair. All these things make me who i am. It’s even alarming that we say these things about each other. As a woman it is my job to teach each other and everyone around us TO LOVE OURSELVES and our WORTH. We are all beautiful and most importantly we are special.

Pammy

I cannot believe that this still happening. This is not just about insecurities, it goes deeper than that.

A few months ago, i heard my 11 year old sister say that she wished her skin was a little lighter and her hair straight. It was up to me to teach her different. She asked me why haven’t i permed my hair. I told her that i love my hair and everything about me. Flaws and all……

I cannot imagine having a different skin colour or a different hair. All these things make me who i am. It’s even alarming that we say these things about each other. As a woman it is my job to teach each other and everyone around us TO LOVE OURSELVES and our WORTH. We are all beautiful and most importantly we are special.

Sanata Diara

WOW you live in a very strange cuntry. I’m Polish, my dad is from Africa and my mum is polish so I’m mixed. I always was the only dark skin girl everywhere but i never felt bad abut it and nobody ever told me I’m ugly becaus of my skin color, in fact I always felt special. Many of my friends say they envy me becaus I don’t have to sunbathe and my kin never looks tired. I realy wonder how can you be so negative abou yourself?

Sanata Diara

WOW you live in a very strange cuntry. I’m Polish, my dad is from Africa and my mum is polish so I’m mixed. I always was the only dark skin girl everywhere but i never felt bad abut it and nobody ever told me I’m ugly becaus of my skin color, in fact I always felt special. Many of my friends say they envy me becaus I don’t have to sunbathe and my kin never looks tired. I realy wonder how can you be so negative abou yourself?

http://www.facebook.com/cynthia.woodall.75 Cynthia Woodall

This movie brings back the time of me growing up being dark skin. My family members thought that I was beautiful, but still called me darkie. I was real dark. The boys never liked dark skin in my time. I remember going to a party with my friends they always was asked to dance. Me I never got asked to dance and I heard why, one boy told another boy that they dnt want to dance with me because can’t even see me in the dark. I was to dark for them.

Now when I got married I married a light skin man cause that is what he preferred I could not believe he wanted me, I had six beautiful children by him and they are beautiful browns, so darker then the others. I would not change my color for nothing.

As of now I live in Africa where there are alllllll types of browns, chocolates, dark chocolates, dark dark, chocolates and even the darkest persons I have ever seen. It is beautiful to see this so many Africans with different skin colors I am loving it! So ladies love your skin colors you are sooooooooooo beautiful! The people here think that this is where I came from not America at all, I fell blessed to be love for what I am, BLACK!

http://www.facebook.com/cynthia.woodall.75 Cynthia Woodall

This movie brings back the time of me growing up being dark skin. My family members thought that I was beautiful, but still called me darkie. I was real dark. The boys never liked dark skin in my time. I remember going to a party with my friends they always was asked to dance. Me I never got asked to dance and I heard why, one boy told another boy that they dnt want to dance with me because can’t even see me in the dark. I was to dark for them.

Now when I got married I married a light skin man cause that is what he preferred I could not believe he wanted me, I had six beautiful children by him and they are beautiful browns, so darker then the others. I would not change my color for nothing.

As of now I live in Africa where there are alllllll types of browns, chocolates, dark chocolates, dark dark, chocolates and even the darkest persons I have ever seen. It is beautiful to see this so many Africans with different skin colors I am loving it! So ladies love your skin colors you are sooooooooooo beautiful! The people here think that this is where I came from not America at all, I fell blessed to be love for what I am, BLACK!